When I was growing up, this area was Zone 5b. It started snowing in late November or early December and we saw the ground again in March -- although some years had a January thaw that would clear patches of grass.
Then it shifted to Zone 6a some years ago. Snow in winter became sparser, but sometimes it would rain enough in summer to flood the fields and roads. Disconcerting.
Now my area is right on the border between Zone 6a and 6b. Zone 7 is burning its way up southern Illinois.
This year, it barely managed to snow in December. Realistically we've had only two substantial snowfalls enough to cover the ground, and one deep cold snap that overlapped one of the snows. I've gotten a lot more yardwork done in the off-season because we've had maybe a couple weeks of genuine winter and the rest has been the crummy days of fall and spring.
It's messing with the plants and animals. The bees are out. They're fighting over the few flowers. I've put out water and cut open an orange to help them along. Normally the bees don't come out until after the last frost. They are months early and there's just not much for them to eat. I have made notes to buy more winter aconite and early crocuses to plant this fall.
Yes ...
When I was growing up, this area was Zone 5b. It started snowing in late November or early December and we saw the ground again in March -- although some years had a January thaw that would clear patches of grass.
Then it shifted to Zone 6a some years ago. Snow in winter became sparser, but sometimes it would rain enough in summer to flood the fields and roads. Disconcerting.
Now my area is right on the border between Zone 6a and 6b. Zone 7 is burning its way up southern Illinois.
This year, it barely managed to snow in December. Realistically we've had only two substantial snowfalls enough to cover the ground, and one deep cold snap that overlapped one of the snows. I've gotten a lot more yardwork done in the off-season because we've had maybe a couple weeks of genuine winter and the rest has been the crummy days of fall and spring.
It's messing with the plants and animals. The bees are out. They're fighting over the few flowers. I've put out water and cut open an orange to help them along. Normally the bees don't come out until after the last frost. They are months early and there's just not much for them to eat. I have made notes to buy more winter aconite and early crocuses to plant this fall.